Kebaowek First Nation has issued a decision withholding its Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) on a nuclear waste facility in Chalk River. The Nation has stopped further consultation due to failures of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) in upholding their legal responsibilities.
In 2025, CNCS and CNL were court ordered to consult Kebaowek First Nation in compliance with the United Nations Declaration Rights of Indigenous Peoples and FPIC standard, and to co-develop a consent-based agreement to support the process by September 30, 2026.
As the deadline approached, CNCS and CNL informed Kebaowek First Nation that they would no longer fund the Nation’s participation costs and would end their participation in the co-development of the consent-based agreement.
Kebaowek First Nation is unable to continue this process or provide consent without all parties at the table. The nation is willing to return to consultations if CNCS and CNL uphold their promise to fully fund the FPIC process and work in partnership with the Nation.
Read the Kebaowek First Nation’s press releases below:
